FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
After More Than 30 Years as a Private Preserve, Safari West Integrates into Nonprofit Stewardship
Santa Rosa, Calif. — February 2026 — For more than 30 years, Safari West has stood apart as Sonoma County’s most distinctive wildlife preserve. Now, the organization is integrating into nonprofit stewardship to ensure the enduring care of its animals, the protection of its land, and the continuation of its conservation, education, and research mission.
Safari West has announced its integration into nonprofit stewardship under the Safari West Zoological Society, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to advancing Research, Education, and Conservation (REC)—with animal care at its core. Federal 501(c)(3) status is pending IRS determination. In the meantime, the organization is moving forward with clarity, intention, and optimism.
At the center of this milestone is founder Dr. Nancy Anne Lang, who at age 75 is thoughtfully planning for Safari West’s future beyond individual leadership.
“Safari West has always been about more than visiting animals. It is about caring for them, learning from them, and protecting the natural world we share. By integrating into nonprofit stewardship, we are strengthening the structure that will allow Safari West to endure—serving wildlife, science, and the public for generations to come.”
Dr. Nancy Lang
From Private Preserve to Public Purpose
Founded as a privately operated wildlife preserve, Safari West has long followed a mission-driven path rooted in responsibility, education, and care. Beginning in 2026, Dr. Nancy Lang and Peter Lang approved a plan to integrate Safari West’s operations, animals, and mission-related assets into the Safari West Zoological Society—marking a significant evolution from private ownership to nonprofit stewardship.
Under this new structure, the Safari West Zoological Society operates Safari West with a singular focus: advancing wildlife conservation, scientific research, education, and the highest standards of animal care. The preserve’s guiding purpose—connecting people with wildlife while supporting conservation—remains unchanged.
Honoring a Legacy, Building What Comes Next
Safari West was never intended to be ordinary. What began as a bold vision—transforming a run-down sheep ranch into one of the country’s most immersive wildlife preserves—has grown into a place defined by independence, innovation, and deep respect for animals.
Now, Dr. Lang is focused on what comes next: strengthening animal care, expanding research and education, and building the organizational foundation that will allow Safari West to thrive well into the future.
A Call to Shared Stewardship
As Safari West enters this new phase under nonprofit stewardship, it opens the door to a broader community of leaders, scientists, educators, conservationists, and supporters to help guide its future. The Safari West Zoological Society will assemble a distinguished board of directors and strategic partners with a shared commitment to wildlife conservation, ethical animal care, scientific inquiry, and education—leaders who will help steward Safari West’s mission and ensure its long-term public impact.
The Safari West Experience Continues
Safari West will continue to offer the immersive, unscripted experiences guests know and love—including guided safari tours, overnight stays within the preserve, and seasonal programs that celebrate wildlife and conservation. These experiences remain central to Safari West’s model, directly supporting animal care while fostering meaningful connections between people and wildlife.
As with every safari, this next chapter is a journey—one rooted in care, curiosity, and shared stewardship. Safari West invites the community to join us as we move forward together, ensuring this extraordinary place endures well into the future.
About Safari West
Safari West is a 400-acre wildlife preserve located in Sonoma County, California, dedicated to animal care, conservation, education, and research. Home to hundreds of animals representing species from around the world, Safari West offers immersive safari experiences designed to connect people with wildlife while supporting long-term conservation efforts. Safari West operates under nonprofit stewardship through the Safari West Zoological Society, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation with federal 501(c)(3) status pending IRS determination.
